Railway logistics centres are planned at the Angamaly and Karukutty stations in Ernakulam district, in a move intended to strengthen freight movement and expand the use of rail for storage, cargo handling and distribution. The facilities will be developed on surplus railway land through private-sector participation.
The proposed centres are expected to serve the freight ecosystem around Kochi International Airport and the wider consumer-goods supply chain. The railway is considering the project as cargo movement through the airport grows, particularly in the fast-moving consumer goods segment and the distribution of daily-use products.
Around 4,400 square metres has been made available for the project at Angamaly station, while approximately 3,000 square metres has been identified at Karukutty station. The railway will grant private operators licences to use the land through competitive bidding. The selected operators will be responsible for creating the required infrastructure and running the logistics centres.
The facilities could include warehouses for general storage, silos for holding larger volumes of products, cold-chain centres with refrigeration systems, micro-fulfilment centres for online commerce and cargo-scanning systems. These facilities are intended to allow traders and producers to store goods securely, sort them and distribute them according to demand before they reach the market.
The location of both stations near Kochi International Airport could allow railway and air-cargo operations to support the same regional supply network. The proposed arrangement would bring storage, cargo handling and distribution closer together, reducing the need for businesses to manage each stage separately. It could also offer an alternative to relying exclusively on road transport for longer-distance freight movement.
The project is structured around the commercial use of railway land rather than the transfer of ownership. Under the applicable policy, the right to use the land will be awarded through an open competitive auction, and the annual licence fee will have to be paid in advance. The initial contract period is set at 25 years, after which the railway will conduct a fresh tender.
The plan could support activity in cargo handling, warehousing, packaging and distribution if operators establish the proposed facilities and attract freight users. However, the report does not specify the expected cargo volumes, investment value, construction schedule or date by which the centres will become operational.
Land reserved for Gati Shakti cargo terminals will not be included in the Angamaly and Karukutty logistics-centre project. The railway’s next step is to proceed with the competitive licensing process for the identified sites, with implementation dependent on the appointment of private operators.
